In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we’re taking the time to celebrate teacher stories from our community. We sat down with science / math teacher and Generation Genius community member, Kelly Nelson, to learn more about their teaching journey.
Generation Genius Community Stories: I Teach Because
Name: Kelly Nelson (mrsnelsonsmiddles)
Grades: 3rd-8th grade (primarily science and math)
Years Teaching: 17 years
Have you always wanted to be a teacher?
Yes, ever since I was a young kid, I wanted to be a teacher. I was the oldest of three kids, and I would make my younger brother and sister sit down while I “taught” them using a whiteboard. It is funny to look back now because not much has changed. I have always loved teaching.
How long have you been teaching and what got you started?
I have been teaching for 17 years. I completed my student teaching in 2nd grade and was sure that was my dream grade level. I ended up teaching 4th grade my first year and loved it. Eventually, I made the jump to middle school science, which was something I never expected, but I ended up loving it just as much. Science is such a fun and engaging subject to teach.
What do you love about teaching?
I love making learning fun for students. In science and math, there are so many hands-on and engaging activities that spark curiosity and get students excited about a concept. I also love taking complex topics and breaking them down into smaller, easy to understand pieces so that all students can access the learning.
If you could teach a different subject or grade, what would it be?
I have taught a variety of grade levels and subjects over the years, but one role I have not tried is upper elementary science or STEM. That age group brings so much excitement and curiosity to learning, which would make it a lot of fun to teach.
What was your happiest moment this year?
I am currently serving as a Math Instructional Specialist, and seeing students who struggle with math or do not enjoy it start to build confidence and find it fun has been the best part of my year. There have been several days where, at the end of math groups, students have begged to keep working on math, and those moments have been really special.
Teacher Appreciation Week: I Teach Because
Thank you teacher for all you do for students every day. Because of you, you’re making learning fun for every student. Have a story you want to share? Submit your teacher story here.
GENERATION GENIUS
